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Manager's radio remarks spark storm of outrage
ROD MICKLEBURGH
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
September 22, 2007
VANCOUVER — Bruce Allen, the veteran, outspoken manager of many Canadian music stars including Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams, is facing calls for his removal from the 2010 Winter Olympics' creative team over controversial remarks he made about immigrants.
In one of his regular commentaries on radio station CKNW, Mr. Allen charged last week that Canada is being pilloried by “special-interest groups” who want special rules for themselves.
He mentioned “turban-wearing Mounties,” those who complain about having to wear motorcycle helmets over their turbans, and the controversy over whether veiled women should be allowed to vote.
“If you choose to come to a place like Canada, then shut up and fit in,” Mr. Allen declared, adding that demands from special-interest groups are easy to solve.
“There is the door. If you don't like the rules, hit it. We don't need you here. You have another place to go. It's called home. See ya.”
Mr. Allen's comments evoked a storm of outrage within the Indo-Canadian community. Punjabi radio hot-line shows have been deluged by angry callers demanding some kind of action be taken against Mr. Allen. At least one complaint has been lodged with the CRTC.
Yesterday, NDP Olympics critic Harry Bains called for Mr. Allen's removal from the 10-member Olympics team charged with putting on the Games' signature opening and closing ceremonies. The team, headed by Australian whiz choreographer David Atkins, was announced on Thursday. Mr. Allen was one of three music industry heavyweights included on the roster.
Mr. Bains said that, with his comments, Mr. Allen has shown himself unable to represent the multicultural nature of Canadian society that should be reflected in the Games ceremonies.
“I respect his right as a journalist to make his views known. But I think he went overboard. He crossed the line, and he has upset a large segment of our multicultural society,” the NDP critic said.
“He's talking about a community that has been here for over a hundred years. They are as Canadian as Mr. Allen is. Who is he to decide what the rules are here?”
Sukhpreet Singh of the Canadian Organization of Sikh Students said his group also intends to press for Mr. Allen's removal from the Olympics team.
“It is a public position, involving the spending of Canadian tax dollars, and his views do not reflect Canadian values. He is clearly not in line with what Canada is all about,” Mr. Singh said.
He added that he has written letters of complaint to the CRTC and CKNW. “At the very least, we want an apology from Mr. Allen.”
But, in an occasionally heated exchange yesterday with CKNW hot-liner Christie Clark, Mr. Allen was unrepentant. He termed the controversy “a bunch of **** dredged up by some people who don't get it. I'm not hate-mongering. I'm an editorialist. I hate people playing the race card … I make people think. That's my job.”
Ms. Clark, who defended Mr. Allen's right to express his views, shot back: “Just because you're an old white guy doesn't mean they [immigrants] have to meet your standards.”
Although he did not make it clear in his commentary, Mr. Allen said to Ms. Clark that he opposed the refusal of Canadian passport officials to accept photos of three Sikh youths who wore religious headgear.
“That's race-bashing, and I don't like it,” Mr. Allen said.
Manager's radio remarks spark storm of outrage
ROD MICKLEBURGH
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
September 22, 2007
VANCOUVER — Bruce Allen, the veteran, outspoken manager of many Canadian music stars including Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams, is facing calls for his removal from the 2010 Winter Olympics' creative team over controversial remarks he made about immigrants.
In one of his regular commentaries on radio station CKNW, Mr. Allen charged last week that Canada is being pilloried by “special-interest groups” who want special rules for themselves.
He mentioned “turban-wearing Mounties,” those who complain about having to wear motorcycle helmets over their turbans, and the controversy over whether veiled women should be allowed to vote.
“If you choose to come to a place like Canada, then shut up and fit in,” Mr. Allen declared, adding that demands from special-interest groups are easy to solve.
“There is the door. If you don't like the rules, hit it. We don't need you here. You have another place to go. It's called home. See ya.”
Mr. Allen's comments evoked a storm of outrage within the Indo-Canadian community. Punjabi radio hot-line shows have been deluged by angry callers demanding some kind of action be taken against Mr. Allen. At least one complaint has been lodged with the CRTC.
Yesterday, NDP Olympics critic Harry Bains called for Mr. Allen's removal from the 10-member Olympics team charged with putting on the Games' signature opening and closing ceremonies. The team, headed by Australian whiz choreographer David Atkins, was announced on Thursday. Mr. Allen was one of three music industry heavyweights included on the roster.
Mr. Bains said that, with his comments, Mr. Allen has shown himself unable to represent the multicultural nature of Canadian society that should be reflected in the Games ceremonies.
“I respect his right as a journalist to make his views known. But I think he went overboard. He crossed the line, and he has upset a large segment of our multicultural society,” the NDP critic said.
“He's talking about a community that has been here for over a hundred years. They are as Canadian as Mr. Allen is. Who is he to decide what the rules are here?”
Sukhpreet Singh of the Canadian Organization of Sikh Students said his group also intends to press for Mr. Allen's removal from the Olympics team.
“It is a public position, involving the spending of Canadian tax dollars, and his views do not reflect Canadian values. He is clearly not in line with what Canada is all about,” Mr. Singh said.
He added that he has written letters of complaint to the CRTC and CKNW. “At the very least, we want an apology from Mr. Allen.”
But, in an occasionally heated exchange yesterday with CKNW hot-liner Christie Clark, Mr. Allen was unrepentant. He termed the controversy “a bunch of **** dredged up by some people who don't get it. I'm not hate-mongering. I'm an editorialist. I hate people playing the race card … I make people think. That's my job.”
Ms. Clark, who defended Mr. Allen's right to express his views, shot back: “Just because you're an old white guy doesn't mean they [immigrants] have to meet your standards.”
Although he did not make it clear in his commentary, Mr. Allen said to Ms. Clark that he opposed the refusal of Canadian passport officials to accept photos of three Sikh youths who wore religious headgear.
“That's race-bashing, and I don't like it,” Mr. Allen said.
